Flossing may fight halitosis

SUMMARY: Brushing the teeth two or even three times a day is not always enough to prevent bad breath from taking up residence in the mouth. According to two dentists from the Reno Gazette Journal, flossing may make a big difference in freshening breath and keeping teeth clean.

Brushing the teeth two or even three times a day is not always enough to prevent bad breath from taking up residence in the mouth. According to two dentists from the Reno Gazette Journal, flossing may make a big difference in freshening breath and keeping teeth clean.

Oral experts Eric Homze and Brad Munninger write that flossing can reach a full 35 percent of the dental surface that toothbrushes mostly miss. Failure to floss often leads to buildup of food particles and bacteria in the cracks between teeth.

Unflossed teeth begin to form plaque buildup, which is thick, yellow material that quickly hardens into tartar, typically in about ten days, the news source reports.

Tartar and the bacteria whose growth it contributes to both emit rotten-smelling sulfuric compounds that can cut through even the minty aroma of toothpaste.

To fight bad breath at the source, a good dental regimen consisting of regular brushing and flossing, and a supplement of specialty breath freshening products may be able to neutralize the odors caused by bacteria and plaque.